Statistics support driving tests for seniors over a certain age.Stock image Following a rise in fatal traffic accidents involving senior citizens in Japan, authorities are considering a change to licensing legislation that would require drivers over a certain age to only pilot safety-enhanced vehicles with features like automatic brakes. The changes, being developed by the National Police Agency in collaboration with various national ministries, will be proposed to Japan’s Cabinet along with the government’s growth strategy, sources recently told The Japan Times. According to Japan’s National Police Agency, the incidence of fatal accidents caused by drivers over the age of 75 in Japan has almost doubled in the last ten years. In 2008, fatal accidents caused by that age group accounted for 8.7 per cent of the total number in the country; in 2018, with 460 fatalities caused by drivers over 75, that figure was tallied at 14.8 per cent. The Agency commissioned three panels of experts to come up with some potential solutions to the growing issue. The new license would limit certain drivers to certain areas at certain times in certain vehicles, likely ones that include automatic braking and fail-safes for when the wrong pedal is pressed. This April, an 88-year-old driver and former government official struck and killed a mother and her daughter, and injured six others, in Tokyo. And even more recently in the city of Fukuoka, an 81-year-old driver collided with five other vehicles in an intersection, killing himself and his wife and injuring nine others. In both cases, it is believed the driver mistook the gas pedal for the brake pedal.
Origin: Japan wants to limit seniors to driving cars with high-tech safety features
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VW nears self-driving deal with Ford, exits Aurora alliance
Fords promised to build an autonomous, ride-sharing car by 2021.Ford Volkswagen ended a self-driving technology partnership with Silicon Valley startup Aurora Innovation Inc. as it draws closer to a broader collaboration on autonomous cars with Ford. “The activities under our partnership have been concluded,” a VW spokesman said of its alliance with Aurora in a statement Tuesday. The German manufacturer announced the tie-up with Aurora to develop autonomous-car technology at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas last year to help boost its own activities spearheaded by the Audi premium-car unit. Meanwhile, months of negotiations with Ford and its autonomous affiliate Argo AI are near fruition and a deal could be announced as early as July, people familiar with the situation said. Most of the thorniest issues have been resolved and the two companies envision a comprehensive collaboration creating a global colossus in the self-driving space, these people said. The partnership would rival Alphabet Inc.’s Waymo and General Motors’ Cruise unit in ambition and scope, according to one of the people, who asked not to be identified revealing internal discussions. Self-driving cars have emerged as key battleground between automakers and technology giants in the race to develop robo-taxis and driverless delivery vehicles. These programs require investments in the billions of dollars, while regulatory frameworks vary across the globe, complicating testing and deployment. Volkswagen and Ford, which agreed to co-produce vans and pickups earlier this year, have been discussing an investment in Argo AI, the Ford-backed autonomous vehicle startup, people familiar with the talks have said. The automakers discussed an approximate valuation for Argo of US$4 billion, one of the people said. Ford said its talks with Volkswagen are ongoing but did not provide specifics on the extent of progress. “Discussions have been productive across a number of areas. We’ll share updates as details become more firm,” it said in a statement. VW declined to comment on the status of the talks. Aurora, which raised over half a billion dollars in February from backers including Sequoia Capital and Amazon.com Inc., announced on Monday it will partner with Fiat Chrysler Automobiles NV to develop and deploy a fleet of self-driving commercial vehicles. The company is the brainchild of Sterling Anderson, the former director of autonomy for Tesla Inc.; Drew Bagnell from Uber Technologies Inc.; and Chris Urmson, who headed Alphabet’s self-driving car project before it was named
Origin: VW nears self-driving deal with Ford, exits Aurora alliance
New BMW 3 Series Touring launched with focus on sharp handling
BMW has taken the wraps off the new 3 Series Touring and promised it will retain the dynamic handling of the saloon version. The new 3 Series estate will go on sale in late September with a range of petrol and diesel engines. For the first time in the Touring, there will be a plug-in hybrid 330e model, which will arrive in July 2020. As with the 330e saloon, it will feature a 248bhp powertrain, comprising a 181bhp petrol engine with a 111bhp electric motor, and the ability to run 39 miles on electric-only power. At launch, the petrol engine range will start with the 181bhp 320i and the range-topper will be the four-wheel-drive M340i xDrive, which has a 3.0-litre unit with 369bhp and 295lb ft. The M340i xDrive Touring can achieve 0-62mph in 5.8sec. Diesel options will range from the 147bhp 318d to the 261bhp 330d xDrive. All models will have an eight-speed automatic gearbox as standard. No manuals are offered in the range. The 3 Series Touring also receives a new lift-related damping system for the first time. An M Sport differential is standard on the M340i xDrive and optional on higher-spec models, as is M Sport suspension. Product manager Stefan Horn told Autocar the new Touring will “handle even better” than the old car thanks to a stiffer chassis, lower centre of gravity and weight reduction. Entry-level models will sit on 17in wheels as standard, rising to 19in on higher specs, with full-LED headlights and tail-lights also standard. Horn claimed the objective was to prioritise the car’s looks to increase desirability, as the estate sector declines in the face of SUVs. At 4709mm, the new model is 76mm longer than the previous generation, in part due to a wheelbase that’s 41mm longer, at 2851mm. The new 3 Series Touring is also 11mm taller and 16mm wider. BMW claims it offers extra shoulder and knee room, along with the ability to fit three child seats across the rear bench. The 500-litre boot is wider and five litres larger than before and is accessed via a standard automatic tailgate, which retains a separately opening window. There are storage areas under the main boot floor, and new optional rubber anti-slip rails, which keep smaller loads in place. The rear seats can be folded in a 40/20/40 layout, increasing the storage capacity to a maximum of 1510 litres. In the UK, the 3 Series Touring will be offered in SE, Sport, M Sport and M Sport Plus trim levels. The top level includes M Sport suspension and brakes, 19in alloy wheels and a choice of exclusive colours. Prices have yet to be announced, but expect the base model to start from just under £30,000, with an average increase over like-for-like saloons of around
Origin: New BMW 3 Series Touring launched with focus on sharp handling
Audi RS5 returns to range with free-breathing 444bhp V6
Audi has reintroduced the RS5 to its range of performance vehicles, in both Coupé and four-door Sportback forms, as a limited-run special edition. The two-door has been unavailable for the past year due to delays in the model undergoing the new WLTP efficiency tests, while the Sportback is making its market debut following a launch in March 2018. Just 250 of each bodystyle will be sold, exclusively in Audi Sport Edition trim, which is priced from £68,985. An Audi spokesperson said these 500 units are likely to be the final RS5 models sold before a particulate filter is installed as part of a range update in 2020. For now, the RS5’s twin-turbocharged 2.9-litre V6 petrol engine produces an unchanged 444bhp and 443lb ft, with drive sent to both axles via an eight-speed automatic gearbox. Both models are said to dispatch the 0-62mph sprint in 3.9sec. Top speed is unconfirmed but likely to remain an electronically limited 174mph. The Coupé manages 30.1mpg on the WLTP combined cycle and the Sportback 29.7mpg, with corresponding CO2 outputs of 213g/km and 215g/km. In Audi Sport Edition form, the RS5 features Anthracite 20in alloy wheels, tinted rear windows, gloss black exterior trim and a performance exhaust system. Inside, the seats are finished in Alcantara and leather, with LED ambient lighting, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, blindspot monitoring and a panoramic sunroof fitted as standard. The return of the RS5 comes as Audi begins to bring its entire range back to market following a 3.5% drop in profits last year as newly implemented WLTP regulations forced the withdrawal of each for testing. The German brand’s range of S-badged performance models has undergone a significant transformation, with the S4, S5, S6 and S7 making the switch to a 48V-assisted, turbocharged diesel V6. Speaking at the firm’s annual press conference in March, board member Hans-Joachim Rothenpieler said that Audi couldn’t “afford to develop cars which do not respond to our customers’ wishes” but remained keen to preserve its “sporty
Origin: Audi RS5 returns to range with free-breathing 444bhp V6
Toyota partnering with basically everybody to popularize EVs
Toyota early June laid out plans to collaborate with a host of other Japanese automakers as part of a new push to popularize battery-electric vehicles, and to soon reveal new technologies it’s developed for next-gen EVs, like solid-state batteries. The announcement was made a day after it was revealed Toyota and Subaru would jointly develop a platform to underpin fully electric midsize and large passenger cars. They also announced a collaboration to jointly develop a C-segment-class BEV crossover for sale under each company’s own brand. Suzuki and Daihatsu would also see their badges on compact cars derived from the collaboration, and it’s rumoured that Mazda will be involved in the effort, too. Toyota wants to shift focus from the conventional idea of “manufacturing BEVs and having customers buy them” to the idea of searching for partners openly and extensively, striving to engage in initiatives to construct new business models, Shigeki Terashi, executive vice-president at Toyota, said at a presentation June 7 of the challenges facing his company. Parsing all that marketing speak, we find a few nuggets of product information. The lozenge-shaped vehicles shown above are referred to as ultra-compact BEVs and are planned for the Japanese market, targeted at people who prefer smaller vehicles or municipalities who seek to make economical choices. That commercially planned vehicle shown on the left has a planned release date of 2020, with a maximum speed of 60 km/h and a 100 km range on a single charge. It measures just 2500 mm in length, about same as the wheelbase of a 2019 Mini Cooper. Closer to home, an electrified version of Toyota’s new global platform, dubbed e-TNGA, will underpin half a dozen variations of BEVs. It is from this platform the Toyota/Subaru vehicle will spring, slated to debut on this soil in the early 2020s. Given that it is said to have America as its main target market, look for plenty of cargo space and all-wheel drive. And lots of cupholders. Finally, Toyota said its solid-state battery technology is expected to debut in 2020, in sync with the Olympics in Tokyo. The new battery type should significantly reduce the length of charging times and expand driving range. If you’re interested in reading the whole presentation, you can find it
Origin: Toyota partnering with basically everybody to popularize EVs
YouTube moron films himself in Tesla on Autopilot with no one at the wheel
2018 Tesla Model 3Peter Bleakney In a truly stupid video recently posted to Instagram, YouTuber Alex Choi attempted to make himself look cool by sitting in the back seat of a semi-autonomous Tesla Model 3 with nobody behind the wheel. Choi posted the eight-second clip to his Instagram Stories, clearly showing himself taking a video from the back seat of the car as it self-navigated heavy traffic, a friend in the front passenger seat and the driver’s seat completely empty, just like the part of his brain where the common sense is supposed to be. Needless to say, if something were to go wrong with the system, or even if it were turned off suddenly – it deactivates when someone turns the wheel or touches the brakes – he would have been totally screwed, and likely would’ve hurt somebody else on the road. meanwhile, YouTuber and new #TeslaModel3 Performance owner, Alex Choi is posted this video to his Instagram story last night. Its probably the most reckless thing that hes done and thats saying something. pic.twitter.com/TK5zwgRohX Det Ansinn (@detansinn) June 4, 2019 This isn’t the first time Choi has done something stupid that endangers other people’s lives. A video was posted a while back with him making an extremely ill-timed merge in a Lamborghini that almost ended a motorcycle rider’s life. Honestly, if you’re going to do something for the gram, at least make it cool or interesting; this is just stupid, and doesn’t help the reputation of the Autopilot system. Once again, Tesla’s Autopilot system is not some stupid toy to be played with. It’s a driver assistance aid aimed at making driving more comfortable, so quit pretending it’s your own personal chauffeur. It isn’t. Tesla is also partly to blame for this kind of behavior, since the automaker still uses language like “full self-driving capability” to describe Autopilot’s advantages, when that’s something it really doesn’t
Origin: YouTube moron films himself in Tesla on Autopilot with no one at the wheel
Renault Koleos updated with new engines, looks and kit
Renault has revealed an updated version of the Koleos, bringing the large SUV into line with its recently refreshed Kadjar sibling. External changes are as subtle as they are on the Kadjar and include an altered grille, new skid plates front and rear and additional chrome. LED headlights are now standard fit across the range, while new two-tone alloy wheels and a Vintage Red paint scheme are added. Interior upgrades include new soft-touch materials, trim details and two-stage reclining rear seats on all models. A new pedestrian detection function has been added to the active emergency braking system, while the infotainment now gets full-screen Apple CarPlay capability. Renault has also added two new diesel engines to the Koleos. The first is a 148bhp 1.8-litre unit, replacing the 1.6-litre diesel in the outgoing model. It’s front-wheel-drive only, puts out 250lb ft of torque and is claimed to emit 143g/km of CO2 emissions. A new 2.0-litre also features with 187bhp and 280lb ft of torque, claiming 150g/km of CO2. The marque has seemingly taken the opportunity to make both engines CVT-only, reflecting the decreased popularity of manual transmissions in this class. Greater refinement is also claimed, while the more powerful diesel comes with an intelligent all-wheel-drive system. Alongside the material changes, Renault has also simplified the Koleos range. Two trim levels are now offered: Iconic and GT-Line, with standard kit increased over the previous base model. Prices will be announced in July, with deliveries expected in
Origin: Renault Koleos updated with new engines, looks and kit
Fiat Chrysler withdraws 50/50 merger proposal with Renault
In this file photo taken on August 21, 2017, a car dealer in Turin, Italy, shows the logos of Jeep, Fiat, Lancia and Alfa Romeo automobile company, brands of Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA).Marco Bertorello / Getty Images Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) has withdrawn its merger offer with Renault, not long after reaching a tentative agreement with France on the terms of the proposed offer. Renault issued a statement that it had been reviewing the potential 50/50 merger “with interest” but was unable to reach a decision because representatives of the French State – which owns 15 per cent of Renault – had asked for the automaker’s vote to be postponed to a later meeting. This request followed two consecutive days of meetings by Renault’s board of directors. In turn, FCA issued a statement saying that “it has become clear that the political conditions in France do not currently exist for such a combination to proceed successfully.” The American automaker thanked the heads of Renault, along with its Alliance partners Nissan and Mitsubishi. FCA proposed the merger with Renault on May 27. It would have created the world’s third-largest automaker, behind Volkswagen and Toyota, and was valued at US$35 billion. The Wall Street Journal reported that FCA had pulled the merger offer after Nissan refused to support the deal. The paper also said it was Nissan’s stance that caused the French government to ask for postponement of the vote. Reuters reported that Nissan’s CEO, Hiroto Saikawa, said that the FCA-Renault merger “would require a fundamental review” of his company’s relationship in the Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi Alliance. The connection between Nissan and Renault has already been strained by the arrest of CEO Carlos Ghosn. Prior to FCA’s withdrawal, the merger proposal was expected to pass without any issues, although concerns about job losses were raised by European governments. The United Auto Workers Union (UAW) said in a statement that, “As with any merger of companies, the UAW is first and foremost concerned how this will impact our members. FCA leadership has stated to us that this action will not result in any closure of our represented locations.” Following the initial announcement of the proposal, Mike Manley, CEO of FCA, sold US$3.5 million worth of his FCA shares. In other news, U.S. sales chief Reid Bigland has sued the automaker in a “whistleblower” lawsuit, claiming the company punished him for speaking to the federal government about how it reported its
Origin: Fiat Chrysler withdraws 50/50 merger proposal with Renault
New BMW M8 revealed with up to 616bhp
The new four-wheel-drive BMW M8 Coupé will become the most powerful and fastest two-door model yet sold by the German car maker when it arrives in the UK later this year. Revealed for the first time in Competition form ahead of a public debut at the Frankfurt motor show in September, the latest in a growing line-up of performance models from BMW’s M division builds on the strengths of the M850i with a powertrain shared with the M5 and a chassis honed during a 24-month development programme at the Nürburgring. The now familiar twin-turbocharged 4.4-litre V8 offers up to 616bhp and a top speed of 190mph in top-of-the-line Competition guise, thanks to tweaks to the induction system and more rigid engine mountings than the standard M8. Peak power is produced at 6000rpm, with 553lb ft delivered between 1800 and 5800rpm. BMW quotes a 0-62mph time of 3.2sec for the M8 Competition in Coupé form, with the Convertible one-tenth slower over the same sprint. The regular M8 uses a slightly detuned version of the V8 producing 592bhp – the same as the standard M5. Peak power appears at 6000rpm and the same 553lb ft as the Competition model is delivered between a slightly narrower rev band, from 1800-5600rpm. The M8’s power figure is 69bhp more than that of the turbocharged 4.4-litre V8 used by the M850i, which shares the M8’s torque figure. The 0-62mph time for the standard M8 is 3.3sec for the Coupé, and 3.4sec for the Convertible. Both weigh 1885kg and are limited to a nominal top speed of 155mph, although this can be raised to 190mph with an optional Driver’s Package that also brings tyres with a higher speed rating. As with the M850i, the Convertible uses a multi-layer fabric roof that stows in a dedicated compartment at the rear. The model enters BMW’s M line-up as a replacement for the rear-wheel-drive M6 Convertible and a high-end rival to the likes of the Mercedes-AMG S63 Cabriolet. Key identifying features of the new BMW include a uniquely styled bumper, M badging in the grille and side air vents, 20in M-Sport wheels, M-Sport mirror housings, a boot deck lip spoiler and a rear bumper with a wide diffuser element and BMW M’s quad round tailpipe treatment. At 4867mm long, 1907mm wide and 1362mm high, the M8 Coupé is 36mm shorter, 8mm wider and 12mm lower than the discontinued M6 Coupé. It also uses a wheelbase that is 24mm shorter than that of its predecessor at 2827mm, with corresponding track widths that are reduced by 4mm at the front, at 1627mm, and increased by 20mm at the rear, at 1632mm. Inside there are a number of traditional M division elements, including the latest M-Sport steering wheel, stainless steel pedal caps, heavily contoured M-Sport seats, unique M-Sport digital instruments, M-specific graphics for the infotainment system and a newly designed M-sport gear lever. The M8’s four-wheel drive system draws on developments brought to the latest M5 and offers the choice between standard 4WD, 4WD Sport and, with the Dynamic Stability Control (DSC) system switched off, a pure rear-wheel-drive 2WD setting. Underpinning the new BMW M flagship is an adaptive M suspension system with double wishbones at the front and a five-link arrangement at the rear, together with variable damper control. 20in wheels feature on both variants, shod in 275/35 front and 285/35 rear tyres. The steering uses a further-developed version of the M850i’s electric power steering system, with an M-specific tune for the electric assistance and variable ratio. The M8 is now available to order, with prices starting at £123,435 and first deliveries set to take place in
Origin: New BMW M8 revealed with up to 616bhp
Lamborghini heads off-road with new Huracán Sterrato supercar
Betcha didn’t know you needed an off-road Lamborghini Huracán, right? Well, neither did we. Until now. Apparently, Lambo knows what gearheads want before we do. Called the Huracán Sterrato – a word which, loosely translated, refers to a type of pavement made of rough crushed granite – this concept is based on the V-10 Huracán, and draws on Lamborghini’s off-road expertise exemplified in the Itchy Urus super-SUV. It uses the same 5.2-litre naturally aspirated engine, belting out 640 horsepower and a good bit of Italian swagger. Here’s where things get interesting. The company says its all-wheel-drive system is calibrated for off-road driving, including “low-adherence surfaces.” Your author had plenty of experience with those in college, but none of them involved Lamborghinis. The system is also said to provoke oversteer in certain situations, placing this bad boy squarely at the corner of yee and haw. In addition to fiddling with the traction systems, Lambo went ahead and gave the thing a lift kit. Well, a lift kit of sorts, anyway. Ground clearance is heightened by 47 mm, with the car’s front approach sharpened by 1 per cent and the departure angle enhanced by 6.5 per cent. Your author never thought he’d use the words “departure angle” and “Huracán” in the same post but here we are. The wheel track is enhanced front and rear by 30 mm, with 20-inch wheels on tires set into new wide-body wheel arches featuring integrated air intakes. The Sterrato is fitted with underbody reinforcements and body protection, including a rear skid plate that acts as a diffuser. A specially-designed interior trim reflects the sporty off-road character of the Sterrato, featuring a new lightweight titanium roll cage, four-point seatbelts to the new carbon bi-shell sports seats and aluminum floor panels. Keep in mind that Lambo campaigned modified Jarama and Urraco models back in the ‘70s that were pressed into desert-going high-speed duty, so this isn’t the company’s first kick at this particularly outrageous can. In fact, we think it makes us love the absurdity of this Sterrato even
Origin: Lamborghini heads off-road with new Huracán Sterrato supercar
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